An account of the fishing with full fishery details appeared in the October issue

An account of the fishing with full fishery details appeared in the October issue. However there could be criticism of the fact that I had fished at a time when fishing was mainly restricted to season ticket holders and residents. The fishery as stated in the feature does not fully open its doors to day ticket holders until the end of October.So, to counter any criticism (Ahem – well, that’s my excuse!) I decided to return when it was a open day ticket venue to see if it still fished as well as it had earlier in the year. I was not disappointed. Virginia and I left our Ashford, Middlesex home just after 7.30 a.m. to travel down to Duncton Mill near Petworth in Sussex. We arrived just before 9 a.m. after a rather pleasant journey. We were greeted by owners, Sheila and Tom Bishop at their house on the mill pool. This house offers luxury bed and breakfast accommodation which is supplemented by three top quality self catering cottages on site. Tom told us that all three lakes were fishing very well with plenty of fish being caught on floating lines with sub surface fished nymphs.We then left the Bishops to walk down the lane on to the fishery with its three lakes. Having spent some time walking the fishery, we decided to fish from the point on the second lake. There was a good stiff breeze blowing into the bay by the point and I could see the backs of some good fish there between the crests of the waves. These were obviously feeding off the surface or just below it.I had taken an 8.5ft AFTM number 5/6 four joint Shakespeare rod with me as I wanted to go on from the fishery to the coast and did not want any tackle visible in the car. This rod came complete with a very elegant tube that easily fits in the car boot. My reel held a WF6F line with a 12ft, 41b b.s. leader that I thought ideal for the conditions. I started off using a gold ribbed hairs ear on a size 12 hook. I covered several fish without a take to conclude that the fish must be preoccupied with some other food.I had noticed a lot of daddy long legs around at home and then clearly saw one at the waters edge. Although it was late season there were clearly still a few daddy long legs still about. I therefore made a change to fish a sunken daddy. I made my first cast and made two short pulls when the fly was taken with a violent jerk. I was into my first fish and it felt good. It hugged the bottom for most of the fight and could be clearly seen in the gin clear water down deep. The fight was long and exceptionally good with some spectacular runs. Eventually I netted the fish which was a nice fully finned rainbow of about five pounds. That was a good start.Then Virginia seeing my success demanded a sunk daddy to try. Yes again on the first cast, she had a real thump of a take resulting in another rainbow that was much smaller at about 2 1/4lb. That was our smallest fish. Other anglers on the lake started to catch and chatting to them, I found out that most were catching on small green nymphs or damsels. We were the only anglers using sunk daddy long legs which obviously was much bigger and a completely different colour.I returned to my swim and had another rainbow on my second cast. This again was a well finned fish that weighed about three pounds. This looked as if it was going to be too easy. I went for another half an hour before hooking my third rainbow making me the only angler to land three fish. Virginia was catching me up but then an hour later I had my fourth rainbow to complete my four fish limit by 1 p.m. I must stress that I was lucky, as at this stage no other angler on the water had had more than two fish. I believe that I had hit on the right fly and fished it in the best swim.Tom had told me that if I walked down the lane by the fishery and turned right I would end up at ‘The Cricketers’ his local public house. A distance of about 1/2 mile down the lane. The food was first class and I felt very contented when we returned to collect our fish and weigh in. On the day the fish appeared to average closer to three pounds than the stated 2 1b average.We finished a perfect day by visiting the coast for a nice walk before returning home.Full details of fishing prices and accommodation can be obtained from Duncton Mills web site www.dunctonmill.com. For booking accommodation E-mail sheila@dunctonmill.com. Fishing can also be booked by E-mail tom@dunctonmill.com.

If you have a fishery that you would like to appear on this web site contact Laurie phone 020 7573 5473 or E-mail laurie.pilate@fishing.co.uk.